Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Texas A&M
Tech Softball Downs Texas A&M in Conference Opener
March 19, 2003 | Softball
March 19, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech scored two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth as it downed the Texas A&M Aggies for the first time since 2001, 4-1, in the Big 12 conference opener.
Tech (14-24, 1-1) broke open a scoreless game in the home-half of the second. Kelly Rhyne led off the inning reaching on an error by Aggie first baseman Kristin Gunter. Back-to-back singles by Arlene Newton and Andrea Joachims gave the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead after two complete innings.
A&M (21-11, 1-1) was held off balance all afternoon as Erin Crawford scattered four hits over seven innings, allowing just one run.
The Lady Raiders threatened to add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. After Amanda Douglas was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Newton reached base by way of an Aggie error. But Tech was unable to push anyone across the plate.
Tech added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth, both with two outs. Kristi Robles led off the inning with a single and scored on a triple by Rhyne. With Douglas at the plate, Lindsay Wilhelmson's wild pitch allowed Rhyne to score.
The Aggies would finally get to Crawford in the top of the sixth. Selena Collins walked and scored on a Kristin Gunter single. With two out and one on, Lindsay Wilhelmson drove a Crawford offering deep to left-centerfield but Rhyne was able to reel it in ending the Aggie preserving the Tech lead.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the squad did not fair as well falling 10-1 to A&M. Tech bats struck first when with two outs against her, Rhyne came through with a double to center field, scoring Sigala who landed on base with a walk.
The third inning saw three strikeouts by both Crawford, who took to the mound again after pitching a complete game in game one, and A&M's Jessica Slataper. In the fourth the Aggies created a hole that Tech would not be able to dig themselves out of. A&M leapt on board with a two RBI single by Rocky Spencer, however, play was halted due to rain giving but this would not stop an explosive Aggie offense. Play resumed with Kristina Blair in the circle, relieving Crawford. A two-RBI single by Selena Collins and a three-run homerun by Crystal Martin cleared the bases for A&M. A Wilhelmson single finished out the runs for the Aggies in the fourth.
In the fifth, Amie Stines came in to finish the game but could not bring Tech within reach of a win. A two-RBI homer by Cheryl Fowler sealed the Aggie victory with Tech falling 10-1 in six innings.
Next up for the Lady Raider softball squad is Missouri with Tech taking on the Tigers at 2 p.m., Sat. and 1 p.m. Sun.
